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Jesus & The Pink Elephant

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, but not everyone was willing to come hear Him. So, one day Jesus came up with a clever way to draw a crowd. His plan was to get the largest assembly possible, grab their attention with something amazing, then slip in a gospel message. His big draw? An elephant painted pink. You can read the entire account in this paragraph, but you will not find it in the Bible.

Obviously, the above is stated with sarcasm. Just like Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal, so we are mocking those who will go to absurd ends to draw a crowd in the name of the Lord (1 Kgs. 18:27). For example, a denomination in the local area put out the following announcement.

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What this reflects is desperation to get people to their building. It is wholly lacking in Biblical authority and makes a mockery of the religion of Christ.

Churches like this show they do not believe the simple presentation of the gospel is enough. Teaching men about a Savior who died for their sins, salvation and eternal life in heaven, is just not interesting enough to draw a crowd. So, they resort to the ridiculous.

This type of action is generally described as the “social gospel.” It actually started in the mid to late 1800s with churches getting involved in community service; helping the poor and hungry. In the mid to late 1900s it evolved into pizza parties, family life centers (gymnasiums and game rooms), dramas, concerts, raffles, and more. Now you can get a pony ride, pet a goat, and learn about snake venom in the name of Jesus.

How long will it be before a church offers free oil changes? Oh, wait, that has been done. Here too.

How long will it be before a church gives away a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to one lucky visitor? Oh, wait, that has been done. Here too.

How long will it be before a church gives a home? Oh, wait, that has been done.

…or millions in prizes? Oh…

Seriously, what is next?

Churches that do whatever it takes to draw a crowd, ignoring the Bible, will stop at nothing. Thus, we can expect strippers, mixed-martial-arts matches, and poker games as bait to lure people in.

Jesus never used gimmicks to attract people to His preaching. Some will cite the miracles of Christ as justification for petting zoos, car shows, or live bands.

People did follow Him because of His signs (Jn. 6:2). However, He did not use miracles to attract crowds. His miracles were to confirm the word (Heb. 2:3, 4; cf. Mk. 16:20). When the people wanted to see more miracles or wanted more food, He refused (Jn. 6:22-59). In fact, after the Lord preached some hard words to them, many stopped following Him (Jn. 6:60-66).

The religions of men have a serious problem ahead of them. With each new radical step, there is pressure to go further. A simple drama about the birth of Jesus is not exciting enough to get people in the door. Now you must have live animals, live bands, and pony rides. Eventually people will figure out it is all shallow and foolish, and they will stop coming. Or, the churches will simply cease to pretend to be a church and become a full-fledged entertainment and recreation company.

If you believe in the Bible and wish to respect the Lord, reject the social gospel and all its gimmicks. Stand firm for the religion of Christ as presented in the New Testament. Worship as the first-century Christians worshiped. Evangelize as they did. If you do, your worship will not be in vain, but to the glory of God (cf. Matt. 15:7-9).

Is It Okay To Tell A Lie?

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Is it okay to lie when it is not a “big” one? How about when someone’s feelings may be hurt if you tell the truth? Can you lie if you think it will not hurt anything or anyone, maybe to dress up a resume or make your story more entertaining? Many people believe it is acceptable to lie in some or all of these situations.

The Bible teaches that lying is a sin and will be punished by God, even under the merciful system of the gospel. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, lied about the money they gave to the apostles and God struck them dead (Acts 5:1-11). This shows us that God is serious about lying, and sin in general, and will not tolerate it from His people.

Truth is the right way, even if it means negative consequences will follow. Maybe you will lose your job by telling the truth. Your spouse may divorce you if you tell him/her that you have committed adultery. Still, God’s policy is for us to tell the truth.

Lying comes from Satan. Jesus said the devil “is a liar and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44). Those who lie truly have the devil as their father. This character flaw must be put away if one is to please God (Col. 3:9).

John wrote that “all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone” (Rev. 21:8). Think about this the next time you are tempted to tell a lie.

Nadab & Abihu

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Nadab and Abihu were priests who were to respect and honor God’s law. In an attempt to burn incense to God, both Nadab and Abihu were killed by God because they failed to follow God’s will (Lev. 10:1, 2). They were doing the right thing (burning incense) at the right place (tabernacle) for the right reason (praise God). However, they used the wrong fire.

Some today believe it is acceptable to alter God’s will concerning musical worship. He commanded the church to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). There are men who change this to sing and play, and believe God will accept it. What do you think Nadab and Abihu would say?

Some today believe it is admirable to preach salvation by faith alone, despite the fact that God said salvation is “not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24). Faith is required (Heb. 11:6; Mk. 16:16). However, faith alone is dead (Jas. 2:26). The Bible teaches salvation is by faith, repentance, confession of Christ, and immersion in water for the remission of sins (Rom. 10:9, 10; Acts 2:38; 22:16). A change in God’s plan for saving man is a gross violation of His will. Do you suppose Nadab and Abihu would warn men not to make such changes?

Duck Dynasty: The Good, Bad, & Ugly

The Good

You cannot watch an episode of Duck Dynasty without realizing there is a love of family. Their devotion to each other is commendable. Marriage is honored as a sacred institution where the spouses respect and love each other (Gen. 2:24). Parents and grandparents are recognized as authority figures to be obeyed, not back talked (Eph. 6:1-3). Brothers tease one another, but it is all in good fun. It is obvious they have a deep love and close bond. The nephews even look out for their crazy uncle Si.

The show also extols the virtue of hard, honest work (1 Tim. 5:8). The patriarch of the family built the duck call business from the ground up. He turned down a promising professional football career to follow his own path. His wife supported him, chiefly by being a keeper of the home—truly hard work (Titus 2:4, 5).

This is what most of America used to look like. We still crave it as is indicated by the show’s popularity.

The Bad & The Ugly

The Robertson clan has much going for it, but is a disaster at representing true disciples of Christ.

That statement will shock many people. Hear me out.

The Robertsons claim to be members of the body of Christ, the Church founded by Christ, the one you can read about in the Bible. However, their life is filled with worldliness that overshadows any godliness.

Consider this list of behaviors exhibited on the show—without shame.

Drinking: Willie bought a winery and had a wine tasting event (1 Pet. 4:3, 4).

Immodesty: the children and adults regularly reveal that which God says to cover; from short shorts to swim suits and more (1 Tim. 2:9, 10).

Euphemisms: the cast uses words that are not considered curse words, but the sanitized version of them. For instance, heck for hell (Eph. 5:1-7).

Gambling: the men of the show have placed bets with one another, either in golfing (Willing and Jase) or baseball (the work crew) (1 Thes. 4:11, 12).

Tobacco: in the episode where Phil and Kay looked for another home, Phil took his spit cup with him in the realtor’s car (1 Cor. 6:18-20).

When you look at the above list, what is so different about the Robertsons and any other family in the world? They are guilty of whitewashed worldliness or, what we might term, “Christianized worldliness.”

A family that is being held up as an example of what it really means to be lights in a world of darkness blurs the line between the world and the church, sinner and saint. Instead of leading people to the Lord, they are leading them to an illusion; to believing they are right with God while the world is still in them. It is sad. It is ugly.

The Bible tells us to be transformed, not conformed to this world (Rom. 12:1, 2). When we drink, dress immodestly, use euphemisms, gamble, and use tobacco we are conformed to the world, not transformed from it.

Final Thought

There is much to be liked about the show. However, let us not kid ourselves and think it represents Christianity. It does not. It is simply a family that is striving to live in the Kingdom without leaving the world.

He Must Increase

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John was a great man. He lived a life dedicated to God and did not fear telling others to repent (Matt. 3:1-12). His name and fame was widespread, so much so that “all the land of Judea, and all those from Jerusalem, went out to him (Mk. 1:5).

Yet, as popular as he was, John knew his place. In relation to Christ he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). John meant that his ministry and influence was coming to an end. He merely paved the way for the Lord.

That is really all any of us do.

In our lives, Christ must increase while we decrease. We need to become more like Him, striving for that “perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” and “grow up in all things into Him who is the head” (Eph. 4:13, 15).

Likewise, as the Lord increases in our lives, as our character becomes more like Him, others will see Him in us. Our duty is to point men to Him in word and deed. The more we are like Him, the more effective we will be in bringing men to Him.

They Worshipped An Elk…Really?

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In January 2013 a Boulder, CO, police officer shot and killed a bull elk. Whether justified or not is beside the point. How nearly 200 people in the area reacted is the point, and a shocking one at that.

The crowd gathered to hold a candlelight vigil for the dead animal. The local CBS station reported that one man said, “We loved him, but I think he loved us, too” (denver.cbslocal.com). The crowd sang Amazing Grace, sort of (Video On YouTube).

This is an example of men worshipping the creature rather than the Creator (Rom. 1:18-32). An animal is an animal; not a human and not God.

This type of behavior is the result of humanistic indoctrination. Generations have been taught that man is no different than animals. In fact, man came from animals and is just another type. Animal life and human life are of equal value. Thus, it is not odd to have a public memorial service for a dead elk.

Do you suppose these same people protest abortions?

The sad reality is we live in a time when many in our nation are morally destitute. They do not believe in absolute truth. The Bible is viewed as an oppressive, outdated, and harmful document. Man is seen as the master of the world and responsible for all things good or bad. No one is to be judged for deviant behavior. Rather, they are to be protected and praised.

Isaiah warns us, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isa. 5:20).

If there is any hope for our nation at all, then those who believe in the truth of God’s word must take a stand. We must be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16). And, though the nation may be gone as a whole, there are still some who hunger and thirst for righteousness who can be redeemed.

Forced By The Court To Support Sin

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A New Mexico court ruled a private business owner cannot refuse service based on religious convictions. The ruling is on a case where a photographer declined to work for two lesbians in their commitment ceremony. See the story at Brietbart.com.

What does this mean for our nation?

We are much further down the road to a societal collapse than we think. Laws are a lagging indicator of what a society values or abhors. A court that is comfortable ruling against a citizen’s 1st Amendment right to freedom of religion is a sign of just how far we have come.

Personal conscience as a right is being attacked and penalized. Employees no longer have the right to speak out and object to what they believe is immoral. Business owners cannot base business decisions on their religious convictions. Students are barred from uttering their belief in Jesus Christ. Court orders are being issued to town councils telling them to stop opening their meetings with a prayer in Jesus’ name.

What will turn this around?

Nothing short of a complete transformation. Not of our laws or courts or legislatures. All of those will come later. Rather, a transformation of the churches must happen. A total abandonment of the relative gospel, which is not a gospel, and repentance of condoning sin—namely worldliness. They must leave the entertainment and self-help businesses and get back to upholding the standard of God’s word.

How will this happen?

The only way churches are going to change is if individuals change. People who claim to believe the Bible have to insist on it being taught and applied. This is true for both moral and doctrinal teachings (Col. 3:17).*

So, what will you do? Are you willing to study God’s word anew? Is it possible what you have accepted is contrary to the morals taught in the word? What are your convictions and when is the last time you studied the following?

Divorce & remarriage
Intoxication, alcohol
Modesty
Dancing
Appropriate language
Entertainment

The Bible should govern every area of our lives, including the above points. Gauging your beliefs and behavior by society is the wrong place to start. If you believe the Bible to be God’s word, you must compare yourself to it and, more than likely, you will find it is much more strict than you realized.

It is up to you. If you would like to have a series of personal studies on this, contact me. I will be happy to help. But, consider this before you contact me: are you willing to study this without being defensive? Do you will to do God’s will even if it means major changes in your life (Jn. 7:17)? Let me hear from you.

* Moral and doctrinal teachings are tied together. Error on the resurrection opened the door for immorality (1 Cor. 15:33). Error on the church, worship, salvation, and other “doctrinal” issues opens the door for compromise on morals.

I Support Gay Marriage

I am all for gay marriage. So is God. And Christ. And the Holy Spirit. And anyone who loves God and mankind.

In fact, God intended marriage to be gay from the beginning.

Have you figured it out yet?

Gay is happy. Though this is the third definition given on Dictionary.com, if you note the origin of the word, it says, “1275–1325; Middle English gai.” “Gay” in 1275-1325 did not mean anything remotely close to homosexuality. It meant “having or showing a merry, lively mood.” Synonyms include “cheerful, gleeful, happy, glad, cheery, lighthearted, joyous, joyful, jovial.”

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Jonah & The Fish

Do you believe the story in the Old Testament about Jonah and the fish? Remember, Jonah was told to preach to the city of Nineveh, but he refused and ran the opposite direction (Jon. 1:1-3). While on the sea a great storm arose and the only way to calm it was to throw Jonah overboard. So it was, when Jonah was tossed over the sea settled down and he was swallowed by a fish (Jon. 1:4-17). After spending three days in the fish, Jonah was spit out on dry land (Jon. 2:10). He was told again to go to Nineveh; he did and the people repented (Jon. 3:1-10).

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Does It Hurt To Look?

Some men don’t care if their wives “look” at other men and make comments about how they turn them on; just don’t touch. A wife may not object to her husband “looking” at other women, even if he is openly lusting for them, so long as he does not touch them. In fact, it is not uncommon for a wife to tolerate her husband looking at pornography on the Internet, or going to strip clubs with the guys. She tells herself, “At least he is just looking.” The mentality of “look, but don’t touch” is contrary to the Bible.

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